The Hollywood Eccentric
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, Alan Alda
Director: Martin Scorsese
Howard Hughes. He was something!
A filmmaker, businessman, dreamer, and- most importantly to him- aviator, this motion picture follows the highs (and lows) of this strange man’s life. Brilliantly portrayed by DiCaprio, we get a glimpse of his impulsive genius, his mental acuity, and most certainly his odd quirks and psychological problems.
The Aviator focuses on the slice of Hughes’ life, between the 30s and 40s. This was the time of growth, of optimism, and of big productions. Things happened, and Hughes certainly led the way in aviation. He aimed for perfection, always pushing the envelope, not always succeeding, as evidenced by his crash and burn in an experimental plane. Outside of aviation, his filmmaking was as unique as he was. And he romanced some of the most famous women of the day, the highlight being Katherine Hepburn.
Cate Blanchett does a strong, eerily spot-on job of capturing the wild spirit that was Hepburn. With these two actors playing wonderfully off each other, we certainly have a very good film. That is the meat, but the “extras” are just as filling. The plot is solid, the supporting cast superb, and the cinematography rich and encompassing. The Aviator is a very good film indeed.
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